Why do you think HUD doesn't count unemployment as income? That is not what the HUD manual says .. unemployment is listed as an included source of income (per HUD 4350.3)

We have decided that we are not accepting it as income because it is literally a payment made to them because they are unemployed. We also do not accept student loans as income. I know it may sound harsh, but our residents are qualified and they pay every month.

Please cite the guidelines.

According to HUD rules, Unemployment is NOT considered income. It is not to be used to calculate yearly income as it is NOT income. You cannot get an income verification from the unemployment office so you do not know how long that income will last. You also do not know if the business that promised this person their job back will still be in business at the end of this all.

We are taking unemployment ONLY if we have a letter from their employer saying that they're laid off or furloughed temporarily and will have a job to come back to once things open up. If they're legitimately laid off then we don't accept it as we don't have a guarantee of any ongoing income. Now that the $600 is ending in a couple days (and will likely only be replaced by $200 or $300) it's important we're sure they still are employed or will be.

We are accepting, however, we go on what is initially being made, and not counting the extra $600, and if they can qualify based on that, then yes, otherwise, they are denied.